City Charter Change: Should Tulsa Councilors be Elected for Two-year or Three-year Terms?

Sheila News

In November 2011,  it’s likely that Tulsa voters will be asked to make a number of decisions on some complicated  changes to the City of Tulsa’s form of government and elections. A proposal from City Council includes a change to the three-year terms approved by voters in 2009.  Will this be best for Tulsa?

Though exactly what will and will not appear on the ballot is not currently known, the proposed changes being scrutinized include:

•    The addition of three at-large city councilors;
•    Changing city elections from partisan to non-partisan;
•    Changing the terms of office for councilors to two years and making those elections coincide with the federal and state election cycles;
•    Establishing the Mayor as chairman of the City Council with a only tie-breaking vote; and
•    Hiring a city manager to oversee Tulsa’s day-to-day operations.

Your input into this vital! Please attend one of the Unit meetings in May if you are able. Information on unit meetings may be found here.

Or you may contact  one of the committee members to let us know your opinions on the proposed changes by sending an e-mail to [email protected].

Local Study Committee members are Mary Jane Lindaman, Gloria Caldwell and Jay Engle.  Information on